Caribbean team fancies Indian flavours

CHANDIGARH: The big attraction for people visiting Caribbean islands is the sandy beaches and turquoise seas. But what do those living there look for when they go to other countries? The West Indies cricket squad, which is in Chandigarh to play its match with Ireland on Friday, likes the food on its South Asian visits and enjoys Indian and Pakistani delicacies.That is what the staff of the hotel they are staying in, say.
''The team is really enjoying their Indian food. Whether it is tawa or tandoori food, Indian cuisine is definitely something they are lapping up. There are other eateries in our hotel as well, but the team always lands up for the evening meal at our Indian specialty outlet. We are specially preparing the food to their taste by adding less chilli, but all the other spices are the same,'' said Neeraj Chaudhary, executive chef of the hotel.
''We tried popular dishes from West Indies like chicken casserole, but the team made it clear to us that they would like to eat Indian food. Manshera chai, which is actually a broth of lamb meat and tea leaves is quite popular with them. This is an authentic dish from Manshera in Pakistan and the team absolutely loves it. Randan dera, which is also a lamb dish is in demand too,'' said Chaudhary.
Bhatti ka murg, made with marinated chicken is a must for the team. Badam ki kheer and Punjab di lassi have replaced the traditional Caribbean puddings as choice desserts.
''The team is on a strict diet and they prefer sweet dishes because they are high on protein and sugar can be controlled. We are preparing the food with less oil,' added Chaudhary.